called "revelations, riding the waves." it's on right after "snl." thanks very much for joining us. "nightly news" is next. back at 6:00. see you then. breaking news tonight, the devastating toll of the coronavirus. 2,000 americans killed in one day. more people have died now in the u.s. than any other country. the new field hospitals being built. and this -- >> the number of hospitalizations appears to have hit an apex. >> new signs of hope in new york the crack downs across the country, major outdoor parks now closed, new mandatory rules for face masks this man dragged off a bus for not wearing one. back to business the growing debate over when to reopen the country apple and google joining forces to help. early arrival, the stimulus checks from the government

hitting many bank accounts today. some as high as $4,700 the success by the bay. only a dozen peopl killed by coronavirus in san francisco. what can other cities learn from them d there's go news night. the moments of victory and the moments that unite us. ♪ amazing grace >> announcer: this is nbc "nightly news" with jose diaz-balart. good evening we begin with breaking news on the coronavirus. for the first time in history all 50 states are now under major disaster declarations this after the u.s. reached a new grim milestone today. more than 20,000 americans dead by the virus now the highest death toll in the world. we're watching new growing hot spots across the country, but there are also some

signs of hope in the worst hit areas that the rate of spread may be slowing. we're covering this from every angle tonight and begin with kathy park in new york city >> the number of hospitalizations appears to have hit a pex. >> reporter: new infections and hospitalizations are slowing. the crisis appears to be under control for now in the suburbs, but the number of deaths keeps climbing now more than 8,600. >> it is stabilizing at an horrific rate. these are just incredible numbers depicting incredible loss and pain. >> reporter: the death toll is now far below original projections, but the governor warns it's too soon to make the call on reopening the state. but new york city mayor bill de blasio did make a decision to close all public schools for the rest of the school

year impacting more than 1 million students now adjusting to remote learning >> we can never get in a situation where we end up jumping too soon and regretting it later >> reporter: governor cuomo says not so fast. >> you can't make a decision just within new york city without coordinating that decision with the whole metropolitan region because it all works together >> reporter: state officials are expanding testing, opening additional sites to minority communities hit harder by the virus. new york city releasing data that shows blacks and latinos have seen twice the amount of deaths from this outbreak and more field hospitals are going up, too, like this one by new york presbyterian and columbia university bracing for a potential surge of patient. >> it's hard to predict. we're preparing for that eeventualuality. whether that comes to pass or not one can only speculate. >> reporter: on the front lines fatigue and fear are setting in

christine hanes is an er physician at lennox hill in manhattan. >> although admissions seem to be down we're still seeing sick patients so it's not over yet >> reporter: but health care workers are encouraged to keep going. raising volunteers now part of a team >> they deserve kudos for coming to level one trauma center that's hot spot, and i'm so ateful for them and so is everyone else. thank yo >> and kathy joins us from new york presbyterian and columbia university's field hospital going up right now kathy, when will they start receiving patients >> reporter: well, jose, the space officially opens up on tuesday. it has the capacity to treat over 288 patients with mild covid symptoms, former military doctors, nurses as well as

medics are here to support the medical staff. jose >> kathy park in new york, thank you very much. as the surge slows in some areas the new hot spots are a major cause for concern. and local officials are taking drastic new measures to keep cases down erin mclaughlin reports. >> reporter: tonight for the first time in u.s. history a major disaster declared for all 50 states, this as concern grows over emerging hot spots. >> covid-19 is becoming like a sniper in the viral war, silently taking out health care workers. >> reporter: covid infections on the rise in states like north carolina, and pennsylvania saturday announcing more than 1,600 new cases and at least 70 new deaths as cases rise in philadelphia, a shocking encounter caught on video. even though there's no law mandating passengers must wear masks police drag a man off a bus for not having one. following the incident local transport authority says it will no longer enforce the

policy encouraging riders to wear masks. this as states double down on social distancing. >> now is no time to relax the social distancing. >> reporter: some introducing new and tougher restrictions friday evening los angeles extended its stay at home order until may 15th, the longest of any city also closing all parks and masks mandatory for essential businesses this week in hard hit michigan residents can no longer visit friends and relatives. those who have more than one home banned from traveling between them >> all public and private gatherings of any size are prohibited >> reporter: restricts leading to progress. on the front lines outside detroit, signs the stay at home strategy is working. >> we're seeing a plateau of covid cases based on the volume that's coming to us through our front doors. that is both a bit of a sigh of relief, but it's also this anticipatory pause and hoping that the trends continues. >> reporter: but the progress comes at a high price. the line for this

miami food bank around the block, more lives are lost the state of colorado's youngest victim 20-year-old cody died this week fighting the virus. >> cody was young, and he was healthy. he is proof positive that this virus does not discriminate against age. >> reporter: amidst the tragedy there's also hope. washington state once the country's outbreak epicenter now a working example of how to flatten the curve. this week an army field hospital dismantled and returned to the department of defense without treating a single patient. still in seattle concerns it's unclear how this will end >> right now we don't have a clear picture of how this pandemic is going to kind of trail off. and that's the part that worries me is what we do to make sure that things don't get worse. >> erin joins us now erin, you're talking to doctors on the front lines what are they most concerned about? >> reporter: jose, doctors in seattle tell me

they're most concerned about complacency as the situation improves and that curve flattens they're worried people are going to let their guard down, and therefore there will be more cases and potentially more lives lost jose >> erin mclaughlin in los angeles, thank you president trump is planning to launch another coronavirus task force next week to help tackle the questions so many are asking, when will america be back to business as usual again? morgan chesky reports now on the tech giants joining the effort >> reporter: tonight a nationwide debate. the president naming a task force to get america back open pandemic or not. >> this is beyond economic i call it the opening our country task force so don't let anyone get any false ideas that when we decide at a proper time when we're going to be relaxing some of the restrictions, there's no doubt you're going to see cases. i would be surprised if we did not see cases.

the question is how do you respond to that. >> the opening is both a public health question and an economic question to the people of this state or this country to choose between lives lost and dollars gained >> reporter: google and apple want to help solve that by joining forces to create an app for contact tracing, which finds anyone who could have crossed paths with a positive case the plan using high tech to contact trace, passed by someone with the app and the phone unanimously records you've had close contact. if that person gets covid-19 the system notifies anyone they've been close to so they could self-quarantine or get tested in europe encouraging signs. germany launching their own tracing program using similar technology and denmark, one of the first countries to shutdown now says they'll gradually reopen up day cares and schools starting next week in wuhan, china, a cautious

optimism as millions return to work the world watches and waits. >> i think one of the biggest concerns we have about reopening too early is that people will get a little bit complacent about our social distancing if we fall back into old habits right away i'm afraid we're going to see a second wave of illness. >> morgan, this new app from google and apple is already raising concerns over privacy. how are these companies responding >> reporter: jose, it is afirm of surveillance, but both companies stress this app is voluntary. that means even if you contract covid-19 it's still up to you to input that information into your phone. i also point to the fact these companies are only using bluetooth data are not are actively tracking your location jose >> morgan chesky in dallas, thank you very much. as christians across the world prepare to celebrate easter tomorrow there's growing concern that some groups will

gather for worship further spreading the virus. nbc's sam brock now on how some local governments plan to stop them >> reporter: tonight the call for empty churches and cathedrals is conflicting with a different reality. >> the angel of the lord, the spirit of god has spoken to me and says don't be afraid >> reporter: some congregations like this one in orlando convening for palm sunday a week ago with the pastor touching pariioners to heal them and planningo reopen their doors tomorrow that's true of the life tabernacle church in batten rouge as wl which is expecting 2,000 or more people stark warnings have come from some governors lik kentucky's andy beshear >> i hope people will see we are living our faith by being willing to change the way that we're worshipping this >> reporter: but his warning of recordg license platesf church goers and enrcing a quartine drawing rebuke from texas senator ted cruz, adding

in a separate tweet i live in texas where we protect public safety but aren't authoritarian zealots. the state speaker says there's more to the story than that what was the reason for the reversal >> i definitely don't want people to go to church, but i don't want them to go to jail if they do. >> reporter: of the 15 states with the most vulnerable populations to coronavirus 1 of them have some kind of religious exemption. florida's governor giving this guidance >> the state of florida is not going to through government coercion close a church synagogue or place of worship. >> reporter: in south florida all 109 parishes, 1.3 million catholics will only have the option to stream services online >> that's kind of tempting god and being foolish. and, you know, the gospel tells us be courageous but not to be foolish. rorter: the

boundaes of faith being tested as christians prepe for the hoest day of their calender >> for churches and states that have special exemptions are there circumstances they could get in legal trouble >> reporter: jose, there are a couple of situations that could trigger legal trouble. one not honoring 6 feet between parishioners >> sam brock in miami, thank you. still ahead tonight those coronavirus relief checks are starting to land in some accounts today when will yours arrive and throughout the program tonight we're spotlighting the moments that unite us like these cheers of joy from and for a coronavirus patient from a nework city hospal yestday after days ventilator

we're back now with a surprise for many americans. the stimulus checks from the government went out early. some received them in their bank accounts today senior business correspondent stephanie ruhle joins us now good seeing you. why have some people received them but not others? >> jose, they are going first to people who filed their taxes previously using direct deposit that way it goes straight to your bank account. now, if you haven't received it yet don't worry, they are not going out all at once, but they should be by the end of next week and if you didn't do direct deposit the government is sending old-fashioned checks, but that could take a

few weeks. >> and steph, who qualifies? >> all right, well, almost 8 americans do. you qualify for ,200 sphyou make less than $75,000 a year, additional $500 for any kids under the age of 17 one new developmen for people who don't file their taxes because your growth inme was under $12,200, the irs has launched a new tool for you to setup direct deposit and that is available at irs.gov and in t comindays they're going to be launching an online tool >> is $1,200 going to be enough? >> listen, jose, it's not. you and i every day hear stories of people who are struggling in our own towns, erything is shutdown now the presidt has said he is open to a send round stimulus checks, but he can't clear that it has to get negotiated through congress, and could be necessary because we

don't know when ts thing is going to end >> stephanie ruhle, ank you very much. of theming up, ahead how onmajor u.s. city managed to keep coronaviru cases and deaths so low. and this momt that unites us new york's bravest horing our health care heroes outside one city hpital.

as coronavirus cases climb across the country there's one major american city that seems to be winning the fight, keeping

case counts and deaths surprisingly low jacob ward reports from san francisco on what they are doing righ >>eporter:his a 600 bed n francisco hospital has only 20 patients for medical staff who planned for a tidal wave of suffering here it's disorienting >> we onhe front lines feel a sense of guilt and seeing the suffering from colleagues who are across the country in elmhurst, new york city, in new orleans, in michigan >> reporter: in fact,y thin are going well ucfs plans to send a portion of its medical staff to new york. >> it's got to feel different if you're in china or italy or new york it definitely does not feel that way here >> so the objective re was the flatten the curve so that we could take the pressure off of hospitals. it sous like we ve definite done that here in the bay area >> no question about

it >> reporter: why such an extreme difference well, lower urban density, wealth san francisco, berkeley and five bay area counties issued stay at home orders on march 16th, 8 days before the first death in san francisco. >> you might say a week, you know, could that make a difference, but this is the thing about exponential growth a week can be a lifetime when it comes to this thing. >> reporter: plus in early march some of the bay area's biggest employers, facebook, google, apple told their people to stay home the doctor also says san francisco's low smoking and obesity rates may have kept people from becoming very ill the state of california was the first to issue shelter in place because of that quick action according to widely used mel brokedeaths would top 16,000 by august, but in new york with a state roughly half california's population the model predicts a much higher death toll, more than 13,000 when will these streets be filled with people again? >> you have to have the public

health capacity to do the testing and contact tracing. you have to have the hospital capacity to take care of patient, and probably the most important the number of cases has to be going down to almost nothing and staying down >> reporter: health officials don't know when that will happen so for now -- >> prepare for the worst, expect it but hope and pray we don't ever have to deploy those resources. >> reporter: jacob ward, nbc news, san francisco. when we come back, the health care workers using music to help and heal and this moment that unites us, the united states naval academy's glee club members joining in across the country with a virtual performance of "america the beautiful. there's good news tonight

there's good news tonight about finding joy in these challenging times, and nobody -- nobody is doing that better than our health care heroes who are using music to help heal in a time of uncertainty a reminder of the healing power of music. surgeons at new york presbyterian stringing together sounds of comfort, a concert for all to hear including their patients >> it was a last minute performance but i think in the end it really wasn't about whether we played the right notes or not but really about

the energy and trying to help the people of our country. >> reporter: a radiologists from harvard university took a moment to play his cello. restoring strength for those doctors near and far with his song ♪ give it up give it up for the first responders ♪ >> moments of pause. singing a song of appreciation for his colleagues ♪ sometimes in our lives we all have pain we all have sorrow ♪ >> while this physician at yale new haven hospal heart after leaving night shift in the icu letting go of thei own anxieties anfears these nurses and doctors sang to each other, too. a reminder wre all in this ♪e all need somebod

to lean on ♪ at hoitals across e tion singinghrough rk times. ♪magine all the for today ♪ ♪ i once was lost >> songs of gratitude encouraging each other with each night. >> we just wanted to show some love to the patients and not only the patients that are continuing to care for those. and tt's nbc ightly ns" for this saturday. join us tomorrow evening as we take a look at promising new

antibody tests, and how they could help the country reopen i'm jose diaz-balart reporting. thank you for the privilege of your time. stay safe. the news at 6:00 starts right now. thanks for joining us. i'm terry mcsweeney. within the last hour, santa clara county has reported dozens of new cases of coronavirus. the county added 82 new cases, bringing the total to more than

1,500. at least 51 people have died in santa clara county alone. alameda county with more than 800 cases. contra costa county, 530 cases. across the bay area, at least 133 people have died. and statewide, there are more than 20,000 confirmed cases. more than 600 people have died because of covid-19. people have been warned to stay inside this easter weekend and there are new parking restrictions near open space areas to make sure they do. but over in oakland, there are more places you can go. nbc bay area's christie smith joins us live with more on that. christie? >> reporter: well, terry, certainly essential traffic can still get through and of course people who live on the street can drive through. but the idea oakland is pushing here for drivers to avoid certain streets and allow people to social distance and have more room to exercise. and today people are using it.